County Watch

The Summit County Commission is interviewing candidates to fill two spots on the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission.

Former Planning Commissioner Greg Voth retired after serving about six years on the board and Basin Planning Commissioner Mike Washington has applied to serve a second, three-year term.

Other candidates being interviewed by the County Commission include: Kurt Daenitz, Richard Clasen, Mike Franklin, Rob Weyher, John Ball and Christie Babalis.

Cheaper biz licenses approved

Those doing business out of their homes now pay the lowest business-license fees in Summit County.

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Responding to criticism from a small group of business owners, the County Commission has approved a plan to charge about 850 home-based business owners $67.36 per year for a business license. All other business owners in Summit County pay $175.44 to renew their licenses each year.

"Many of the in-home businesses found it onerous to pay the (new) fee," Summit County Commissioner Sally Elliott said.

Summit County Clerk Sue Follett expects to send a letter this week to all business owners explaining the change. In-home business owners who have still not renewed their licenses this year have until May 1.

"Then penalties will occur," Follett said.

Home-based business owners who already paid the $175.44 should expect a refund around May 1, Follett said.

"We’re processing close to 600 refunds," she said, adding that county officials expect to spend about $50,000 subsidizing license fees for home-based businesses.

Restaurant Tax grants available

Friday is the deadline for non-profit organizations in Summit County to submit applications for Restaurant Tax funding.

Since the early 1990s, one percent of the sales tax collected on prepared food in Summit County has been granted to organizations that contribute to tourism in the area. More than 300 programs have benefited from more than $9 million generated in the county, a press release from the Summit County Restaurant Tax committee states.

According to the press release, cultural programs have received about 26 percent of the funding, roughly 24 percent of the proceeds have gone to recreation and trails improvements and half of the money has funded tourism promotion.

Applications are available at http://www.summitcounty.org. The paperwork can also be picked up at the County Courthouse in Coalville, Kamas County Services Building and Sheldon Richins Building in Snyderville.

For more information, contact Summit County Commission Administrator Anita Lewis at 615-3220.

Controversial development moves forward

With construction of the controversial Woods of Parleys Lane subdivision nearly ready to begin, residents near Jeremy Ranch are pushing Summit County officials to enforce the terms of their agreement with developers.

Formerly know as Aspen Highlands, Basin residents filled meeting rooms last year to oppose the project. But the Summit County Commission turned a deaf ear to citizens’ concerns when a request from Roger Knight to build the subdivision was approved May 25, 2005.

The approval prompted a lawsuit to be filed against Summit County by a group of Snyderville residents. The new development is planned west of Jeremy Ranch, adjacent to the Moose Hollow, Hidden Cove and Southridge neighborhoods.

So building lots could be sold, this month the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission finalized a plat for the new neighborhood. Before construction begins, however, builders must have a development improvement agreement endorsed by the board.